Nursing Elites

1. What is the process by which a cell divides into two or more new cells?

• A. Mitosis
• B. Meiosis
• C. Both mitosis and meiosis
• D. None of the above

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Mitosis is the process by which a cell divides into two identical daughter cells. This type of cell division is essential for growth, repair, and maintenance of multicellular organisms. Meiosis, on the other hand, is a type of cell division that produces gametes (sperm and egg cells) with half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell. Meiosis does not directly result in the formation of new cells, as it is specifically geared towards the production of reproductive cells. Therefore, the correct answer is A. Option C, stating both mitosis and meiosis, is incorrect because meiosis is not involved in the general process of cell division to produce new cells; it is specialized for gamete formation. Option D is incorrect because mitosis is indeed the process responsible for cell division in which one cell divides into two daughter cells, making it the accurate choice for this question.

2. What is the role of the hypothalamus in the body?

• A. To regulate digestion
• B. To regulate hormones
• C. To regulate body temperature
• D. To regulate the immune system

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'To regulate hormones.' The hypothalamus plays a crucial role in regulating hormones and maintaining homeostasis by controlling various functions such as hunger, thirst, body temperature, and sleep-wake cycles. While digestion, body temperature, and the immune system are important bodily functions, they are not primarily controlled by the hypothalamus. Therefore, choices A, C, and D are incorrect as they do not accurately represent the primary function of the hypothalamus.

3. During embryonic development, most vertebrates exhibit structures called pharyngeal pouches. These pouches eventually develop into different structures in various vertebrate groups, such as the human jaw and inner ear. Pharyngeal pouches are an example of:

• A. Analogous structures with different evolutionary origins but similar functions
• B. Homologous structures with a common evolutionary origin but diverse functions
• C. Vestigial structures that no longer serve a vital function in some organisms
• D. Atavisms, the reappearance of a trait absent in recent generations

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Pharyngeal pouches in vertebrates are an example of homologous structures because they share a common evolutionary origin. Despite developing into different structures in various vertebrate groups, such as the jaw and inner ear in humans, these structures originated from the same ancestral feature. This concept of homology highlights the evolutionary relationship between different species and how structures can be modified over time to serve different functions while retaining a common origin. Choice A is incorrect because analogous structures have similar functions but different evolutionary origins, which does not apply to pharyngeal pouches. Choice C is incorrect as vestigial structures are remnants of features that were functional in ancestors but have reduced or lost their original function, which is not the case for pharyngeal pouches. Choice D is incorrect because atavisms refer to the reappearance of traits absent in recent generations, which is not the characteristic of pharyngeal pouches.

4. Which of the following is an example of an unsaturated fatty acid?

• A. Stearic acid
• B. Palmitic acid
• C. Oleic acid
• D. Butyric acid

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Oleic acid is an example of an unsaturated fatty acid because it contains one or more double bonds in its hydrocarbon chain, leading to kinks in the chain structure. This unsaturation gives it a lower melting point compared to saturated fatty acids. Stearic acid (A), Palmitic acid (B), and Butyric acid (D) are examples of saturated fatty acids as they do not contain any double bonds in their hydrocarbon chains, leading to a straight structure and higher melting points.

5. During which phase of the cell cycle does cytokinesis typically occur?

• A. Interphase
• B. Mitosis
• C. Meiosis
• D. G2 phase

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Cytokinesis is the process of dividing the cytoplasm of a cell into two daughter cells after the nucleus has divided during mitosis. In the cell cycle, cytokinesis typically occurs at the end of the mitotic phase, following the separation of the duplicated chromosomes into two identical sets in the daughter nuclei. Interphase (option A) is the phase where the cell grows, carries out its normal functions, and prepares for cell division, but cytokinesis does not occur during this phase. Meiosis (option C) is a specialized type of cell division that occurs in sexually reproducing organisms to produce gametes, and cytokinesis occurs at the end of meiosis II, not meiosis I. G2 phase (option D) is the phase of the cell cycle following DNA replication in S phase and preceding mitosis, where the cell prepares for cell division, but cytokinesis occurs during mitosis, not in the G2 phase.

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